Welcome to the Splash into Summer Giveaway Hop!
Hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer and The Bookish Mama..
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Blog Tour - Wicked Nights by Gena Showalter (Review & Giveaway) @genashowalter @HQNBooks
Wicked Nights (Angels of the Dark, #1)
by Gena Showalter
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Published June 26, 2012 by HQN Books 411 pages
Leader of the most powerful army in the heavens, Zacharel has been deemed nearly too dangerous, too ruthless--and if he isn't careful, he'll lose his wings. But this warrior with a heart of ice will not be deterred from his missions at any cost...until a vulnerable human tempts him with a carnal pleasure he's never known before.
Accused of a crime she did not commit, Annabelle Miller has spent four years in an institution for the criminally insane. Demons track her every move, and their king will stop at nothing to have her. Zacharel is her only hope for survival, but is the brutal angel with a touch as hot as hell her salvation--or her ultimate damnation?
*This novel was received by the publisher in return for an honest review.
My Thoughts:
Okay. So I have to be honest and say upfront that this may very well be the first angel/demon story that I've ever read. I am so glad that it was Gena's book that introduced me to this world because she creates the most interesting stories that I've read. I was completely and utterly engulfed in Wicked Nights. The story line was strong, the characters, amazing. When I started reading there was no way I was going to put this book down until it was finished.
Just to tell you a little about the novel without giving too much away. We have Zacharel who is the new leader to a group of Fallen Angels. In order for Zacharel to keep his beloved angel wings he must lead these tortured and brutal men to the side of good, gain their respect and obey any requests from the Deity. When these men do wrong and disobey, it is Zacharel that will endure the punishment for their behavior.
On a night Zacharel and the others are on a mission to rid a group of demons from an institution for the criminally insane he finds Annabelle, a human female that has been sentenced to spend the rest of her life incarcerated for murdering her parents. Annabelle is being abused by the staff, tracked and attacked by the demons who are after her soul. However, Annabelle has been fighting for her life and sanity for four years and will not back down. ..from anyone.
It's interesting to watch the relationship between Annabelle and Zacharel form and turn to a passionate romance. Given the fact that Zacharel is a ruthless leader with a heart made of ice and Annabelle is a strong and determined female that will stand up for herself and not be ordered around. When the passion between the two of them ignite it is something magical and will have you begging for more. I absolutely loved this story and pleased that it is only the beginning. I am very anxious to see where Gena will take us next on this journey of good vs. evil.
Overall, I recommend this book for anyone that enjoys reading paranormal romance. I already can't wait for the next book in the series. Wicked Nights is definitely a must read.
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Thanks so much to the Publisher one person will win a paperback copy of Wicked Nights.
The Deets:
1. One entry per person/household.
2. You must be 16 or older.
3. Giveaway is open to US residents only.
4. Giveaway ends July 12th.
Enter Giveaway --> Here!
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Andrew Smith Saturdays! Discussion: In The Path of Falling Objects: Part Four #readAlong
Welcome to Andrew Smith Saturdays!
Today we'll be discussing the fourth part of IN THE PATH OF FALLING OBJECTS. Feel free to jump in with any questions or other topics you might want to discuss from this section or the previous three parts of the book.
In the Path of Falling Objects:
Part Four: Pages 196-267 Discussion
1. Okay guys. I have to say that this has been the most difficult section of the book for me to read. Maybe because I am a mother. Maybe because I've been in several of the same situations. I honestly think it's because I'm human, and have a heart and I feel compassion for other people. Honestly, I think every single page I read broke my heart more and more. Do you guys have any of the same feelings?
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| Photo credit: Andrew Smith |
2. Let's talk about Matthew. I am seriously broken apart by this boy. I could feel his pain in his letters and I can not fathom going through those situations. I know men and women do it every day. It is just really breaking my heart to see him fall apart letter after letter. His mental stability is questionable at best. Still he urges Jonah to hold on to Simon, to realize what they have in each other. To really love one another.
"Knock Knock. You say, who's there? Matt. Matt who? Matthew whose dad is a junkie and whose mom is a tramp for any guy that buys her a meal, that's who. Matthew who killed a little kid yesterday."I felt the pain from that deep down in my soul. Especially after his best friend is killed so brutally. I can only imagine these things that are happening that he says he won't tell Jonah. Thoughts on any of this and Matthew?
3. It seems to me that Simon has matured several years in this section. He has stopped sulking and is now finally doing the right thing. Even if that is something no one, especially a boy his age should have to experience. I'm really glad that Simon and Jonah each realized how childish they were being and also how much they do love and mean to each other. It is a damn shame that it took an adventure straight through hell for them to get to this point.
4. What do you think it would be like to live in the desert, out in the middle of nothing, literally? Do you think that Simon and Jonah will go back to live with Dalton and his family?
5. I wonder what conditions Mitch is actually suffering from. He is absolutely terrifying yet almost interesting at the same time. Everything he does is so beyond anything close to normal, I'm on the edge waiting to see what he will do next. I also wonder what his fascination is with calling himself "Black Simon".
"The ash and dried blood, the lines he's cut, the tattoo of a cartoon skeleton on his flesh.."
6. Lilly is gone. For the first time in this novel I feel so many feelings for and about her. I'm an emotional wreck. It must be how Jonah feels. Well, maybe not, but still... I don't exactly know yet how I feel about this. I'm terribly sad-of course. I think that Lilly was a good person, as good as she knew how to be. I think that she did manipulate people to get what she wanted. I also think that she deep down had a good heart and her feelings for the boys were real. If anything I think maybe she fell for Jonah because he was probably the only male she'd ever known that was respectful to her and treated her right.
"I knew what I was doing all along, making Mitch crazy. But I needed him to get me out of Texas. I'm sorry for what I did to you and your brother."
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Okay. Let's talk!
If there is something else you want to bring up and discuss, please do so. I would love to hear what you think. Our last discussion is next Saturday where we will be talking about Part Five.
Ciao Bella!
Ciao Bella!
Schedule
June: In the Path of Falling Objects (Hosted by Lady Reader’s Bookstuff)- 6/2: Part One: Pages 2-62
- 6/9: Part Two: Pages 63-129
- 6/16: Part Three: Pages 130-195
- 6/23: Part Four: Pages 196-267
- 6/30: Part Five: Pages 268-323
- 7/7: First (Part 1): Pages 2-59
- 7/14: First (Part 2): Pages 60-103
- 7/21: Next (Part 1): Pages 107-216
- 7/28: Next (Part 2): Pages 216-292
- 8/4: Chapter 1 - 8
- 8/11: Chapter 9 - 15
- 8/18: Chapter 16 - 22
- 8/25: Chapter 23 - 29
- 9/8: Part One: The Amethyst Hour, Chapters 1-17
- 9/15: Part Two: The Strange Boys, Chapters 18-30
- 9/22: Part Three: Blackpool, Chapters 21-42
- 9/29: Part Four: Chapters 43-48
- 10/6: Part Five: Seth, Chapters 49-59
Registration
You must register for this event and participate in order to be eligible for prizes.
Register --> Here.
Register --> Here.
Where to buy
Friday, June 22, 2012
#FREE Kindle Edition - Skid Out Today Only (6/23)
A novella prequel to the edgy Heavy Influence Trilogy about young, intense and reckless love between a rising rock star and his younger muse. Follow their journey through temptation, deception & forbidden love.
17 year old high school senior, Jake Masters, front man of a rising rock band, finds new interest in his younger freshman next door neighbor Alyssa Montgomery. Their relationship breaks hearts; stirs jealousy and band infighting. When they’re brought to new found awareness of body and soul, will rightful boundaries be crossed? Will the right decisions and choices, which are detrimental to the band and its future, be made through the haze of infatuation? Will Jake’s absences on the road lead to another filling his shoes? Jake and Alyssa’s lifelong friendships are strained and tested; secrets are kept, admitted and shared. Family bonds are broken, as others grow stronger. Who knew a first love could cause so many problems? Then again, in their eyes, there are no problems as long as they’re together. In the end, will his new found muse bring down everything he’s worked so hard to achieve or will she inspire positive creative change; that will carry him and his band to stardom.*Included free today only this novella comes with an original song as printed on the pages of the book. To receive your Mp3 download of "Transpose" by Bad Suns, please email your order receipt number to: heavyinfluencetrilogy@gmail.com and it will be promptly sent!
Check it. All day today, Saturday, June 23nd SKID OUT (Heavy Influence Trilogy, #0.5) by Anne Marie Frohoff will be offered on Amazon.com FREE for the Kindle Edition. Bonus! The song Transpose by Bad Suns is included free as well. HUZZAH! So, go ahead and check it out. You've watched the teaser trailer (which by the way is badass, right?!) Don't tell me that you're not interested in what Jake and Alyssa are gettin' in to. The FREE Kindle version is available at Amazon HERE! Don't miss out y'all. It's one day only.
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SKID OUT Kindle Edition Available on Amazon |
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Review - Lucy in the Sky by Anonymous
A riveting first-person tale of addiction, in the tradition of Go Ask Alice and Jay’s Journal.
The author of this diary began journaling on her sixteenth birthday. She lived in an upper middle class neighborhood in Santa Monica with her mom, dad, and Berkeley-bound older brother. She was a good girl, living a good life...but one party changed everything. One party, where she took one taste—and liked it. Really liked it. Social drinking and drugging lead to more, faster, harder... She convinced herself that she was no different from anyone else who liked to party. But the evidence indicates otherwise: Soon she was she hanging out with an edgy crowd, blowing off school and everything she used to care about, all to find her next high. But what goes up must come down, and everything—from her first swig, to her last breath—is chronicled in the diary she left behind.
My Thoughts:
I want to say upfront that I do not compare books to one another. I don't think that is a fair thing to do. Not for the author nor the novel. However, Lucy in the Sky has been compared to Go Ask Alice by basically saying that it is just a modern day version. That being said, I am going to voice my opinions based on the two books and their similarities.
I really like the message in this book. I always will. I will always stand up for it. I'm not sure I care for how it was delivered. Then again, I am old school. I don't care for text speak and every other word in all capital letters. I felt the MC was a bit over the top in trying to make her point in almost everything she does. This may be typical for, say, an average teen girl. I just didn't buy it. I was annoyed with her and the repetitiveness of her actions that were not relevant to the story.
It is a shame that children/teens and even adults turn to a substance so that they can feel better about themselves. Maybe even like or believe in him or herself.
There will always be drugs. There will always be peer pressure. There will always be temptation. There will always be curiosity. There needs to be more education, the use of common sense, and willpower, and self-esteem, and the courage to say NO.
I still feel that no matter how it is worded this type of scenario happens every day and my original review for Go Ask Alice will suffice for this book as well. That review can be found here.
*Source: Purchased from Barnes & Noble
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